After spending a week in the Motor City, I saw a city embodied by a philosophy from NHL and Red Wing all-time great, Gordie Howe – “Never start talking about ‘if’, ‘and’, ‘but, or the past, because 90 percent of what follows will be negative.” Before arriving, I imagined a city on the brink, where its character, culture, and people were defined by the Great Recession. Even after reading on and watching videos on Detroit’s revitalization, I still had my doubts. But, after seeing the city first hand, everything about Detroit speaks in the present and constantly projects the bright future that lies ahead.

Before I left for Detroit, my family and friends, like many others warned that Detroit was one of the most dangerous places in America. But that couldn’t be further from the truth - as much a truth as Donald Trump’s boasts of Pittsburgh as a city still dependent on the steel industry. Detroit’s reputation is not what it truly is - it is not a city filled with dangers and gentrification. It is a city filled with culture, but dominated by an unfair stereotype.

Though widely known for its auto industry and manufacturing, I was constantly surprised by the artistic achievements around the city. From the Detroit Contemporary Museum a short walk away to the street murals all around the city, art really runs in the city’s veins. Then I realized that art was not just some aesthetic display for tourists, but it was something that represented the efforts by its people for change. From the Heidelberg Project to the Spirit of Detroit and its motto, Speramus meliora; resurget cineribus, Detroit is a city ripe for new ways to rise and change.

What I could contribute to the city would be just another part in the greater movement of effort put forth by the people of Detroit. I want to further contribute to the entrepreneur sphere of TechTown and its efforts. I want to be able to say that I was a part of a something larger - a movement that years from now people will look back on, a movement that showed what America is about, a movement of true changemakers.

This is pretty awesome Zhao!! I LOVE it!! My favorite thing in life is to challenge stereotypes and I think we both have learned that Detroit stereotypes is just that stereotypes of a very bias view! Stay awesome and stay you!
-Carrie